Here's why Chinese President Xi Jinping didn't attend G20 in India :-The Economic Times Sep 7,2023

 

In a surprising turn of events, Chinese President Xi Jinping has decided not to attend the G20 summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi this week. This decision marks a departure from his consistent attendance at previous G20 meetings, raising questions about its underlying reasons.

According to reports from Nikkei Asia, the root cause of this unexpected move can be traced back to the recent Beidaihe meeting in China, an annual gathering of incumbent and retired leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. While the discussions at this gathering are typically confidential, details from this year's closed-door talks have begun to emerge, suggesting a significant shift in the political landscape.

This year's Beidaihe meeting reportedly had a notably different atmosphere compared to previous gatherings during Xi's tenure as party general secretary since 2012. Sources reveal that a group of retired party elders took the unprecedented step of "reprimanding" Xi and questioning him in ways previously unseen.

Notably absent from this meeting were some prominent party elders, including former President Jiang Zemin and Xi's immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao. Despite the limited presence of elders, their message to the current leadership, including Xi, was clear: ongoing political, economic, and social turmoil, without effective countermeasures, could jeopardize the party's support and its rule.

Leading the group of concerned elders was former Vice President Zeng Qinghong, a close aide to former President Jiang. As a result of this internal political shakeup, Xi's decision to skip the upcoming G20 summit in India is believed to be an attempt to "avoid losing face."

According to the report, a frustrated Xi expressed his concerns to his closest aides, attributing the current crisis in China to their actions. He also placed blame on his predecessors, including Deng Xiaoping, Jiang, and Hu, for leaving unresolved issues that now burden his leadership. Xi stressed that it was their responsibility to address these problems.

This outburst raised concerns among his ministers, particularly Premier Li, who bears responsibility for China's troubled economy. China is currently facing severe economic challenges, ranging from a slump in the property market to a worsening youth unemployment rate. These issues, coupled with turbulence in the military and strained international relations, have created a complex set of problems for Xi's leadership.

Xi's decision to skip the G20 summit in India is seen as an effort to save face amidst these challenges. It is expected that Premier Li, as the head of China's economy, will address these concerns during his attendance at the summit.

In summary, President Xi Jinping's surprising absence from the G20 summit in India is closely tied to internal political developments in China, as concerns about the nation's economic and social issues mount. This unexpected decision underscores the complexities facing China's leadership at this critical juncture.

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